Apple’s name has been thrown into the ring as one of the many contenders looking to take Hulu and do something amazing with it. But with a list of suitors growing daily I wouldn’t bet on Apple being the winner at this stage.
Hulu Suitors
Hulu is up for sale, that is now definitive. But we still don’t know who’ll be buying the U.S.-based online video service, or even which companies are in the running. We have a got fair idea, however, and it’s pretty much all the usual suspects.
Those usual suspects being Yahoo!, Microsoft, and Google. Of those, the latter seems unlikely, even though Google would love to take Hulu under its wing, and Microsoft has all but pulled out of the bidding process. Which leaves Yahoo!.
Yahoo! is thought to be keen on a deal and willing to pay $2 billion for the company if content was exclusive for five years. Terms which News Corp., Walt Disney, Comcast, and Providence Equity are unlikely to agree to.
But wait, what about Apple?
Apple Added To Mix
According to Bloomberg, Apple has joined the party and is in early talks. Apple doesn’t tend to spend fortunes on big, impressive acquisitions, but it’s cash-rich with $76.2 billion on its books. So why not?
The reasons for buying are pretty clear as well. Apple has been endeavoring to create an all-you-can-eat television subscription service for several years, and by buying Hulu would gain a ready-made alternative in Hulu Plus. That could easily be rolled into iTunes.
Not everyone is convinced though, with AllThingsD suggesting Apple is not a “serious contender.”
Conclusions
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Apple buy Hulu, but gone would be any free element because Steve Jobs and co. don’t believe in giving anything away for no money. That could force people to move to Hulu Plus though, and Apple could make a killing.
Related Ad
Purchase TV shows, movies, music, and apps from Apple iTunes
